All that begins... peace be upon you
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Department of Thermo Fluids Mechanical Engineering «an etymology» Abu Hasan ABDULLAH September 2017
Outline 1 Science & Engineering How They Differ but Intertwined 2 Engineer 3 Mechanics & States of Matter 4 What is Mechanical Engineering? 5... & Who is a Mechanical Engineer? 6 Top 10 Qualities of a Great Engineer 7 Scientific Method & Engineering A Very Short Historical Perspective & What It Entails Revised Hypothetico-Deductive Model Iterative in Nature Computational Method: The 20th Century Extension of Scientific Method ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 1 / 14
Science & Engineering How They Differ but Intertwined Science Science is a systematic and logical approach to discovering how things in the universe work. The word science is derived from the Latin word scientia, which is knowledge based on demonstrable and reproducible data. Understanding *laws of nature such as those involving physics, biology, chemistry and mathematics is what science is all about. Science makes us knowledgeable about our world and how it works. Science can only address natural phenomena (not supernatural phenomena see **qudratullah). *LAWS OF NATURE: SUNNATULLAH to Muslims it refers to the way ALLAH rules and governs His creation s raison d être **QUDRATULLAH: power of Allah ; Be! And it is! [Baqarah (2):117] See http://www.livescience.com/20896-science-scientific-method.html http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-science-and-vs-engineering/ http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/nos.html ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 2 / 14
Science & Engineering How They Differ but Intertwined Engineering Engineering is the study of the existing body of scientific knowledge to make its use to create new designs and structures. Engineering makes use of science and mathematical principles to come up with better and more efficient structures and designs. According to Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET):... engineering is the profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and *natural sciences gained by study, experience, and practice is applied with judgement to develop ways to utilize, economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind. *NATURAL SCIENCE: a branch of science that deals with the physical world, e.g. physics, chemistry, geology, and biology See http://www.livescience.com/20896-science-scientific-method.html http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-science-and-vs-engineering/ ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 3 / 14
Engineer Etymology: engineour (middle English), borrowed from engigneor (old French), from ingeniator (medieval Latin) for one who creates or one who uses an engine, from ingenium ( nature, native talent, skill ), from in ( in ) + gignere ( to beget, produce ), genere (old Latin); see ingenious hence one who produces or generates [new] things. Engineers design materials, structures, and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality, regulation, safety, and cost. Work of engineers forms the link between scientific discoveries and their subsequent applications to human needs and quality of life. ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 4 / 14
Mechanics & States of Matter Mechanics is the branch of Applied Mathematics dealing with motion and forces, the branch of Physics dealing with the study of motion, the technical aspect or working part; mechanism; structure. States of Matter There are five known phases, or states, of matter: solids, liquids, gases, plasma, Bose-Einstein condensates. The main difference in the structures of each state is in the densities of the particles A solid can resist a shear stress by a static deformation. In physics a fluid is a substance that CANNOT resist and thus continually deforms (flows) under an applied shear stress. In your pursuit to become a mechanical engineer, you will become familiar with the mechanics of these various states of matter, particularly the Solid Mechanics and the Fluid Mechanics. ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 5 / 14
What is Mechanical Engineering? Mechanical engineering is a diverse subject that derives its breadth from the need to design & manufacture everything from small individual parts and devices (e.g. microscale sensors and inkjet printer nozzles) to large systems (e.g. spacecraft and machine tools). See http://me.columbia.edu/what-mechanical-engineering ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 6 / 14
... & Who is a Mechanical Engineer? The role of a mechanical engineer is to take a product from an idea to the marketplace. In order to accomplish this, a broad range of skills are needed. The mechanical engineer needs to acquire particular skills and knowledge. He or she needs to understand the forces and the thermal environment that a product, its parts, or its subsystems will encounter; to design them for functionality, aesthetics, and the ability to withstand the forces and the thermal environment they will be subjected to; and to determine the best way to manufacture them and ensure they will operate without failure. Perhaps the one skill that is the mechanical engineer s exclusive domain is the ability to analyze and design objects and systems with motion...... and (classical) mechanics describes the motion of macroscopic objects, from projectiles to parts of machinery, as well as astronomical objects, such as spacecraft, planets, stars, and galaxies. See http://me.columbia.edu/what-mechanical-engineering ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 7 / 14
Top 10 Qualities of a Great Engineer http://engineeringschools.com/resources/top-10-qualities-of-a-great-engineer Engineers are responsible for some of the greatest inventions and technology the world depends on. Everything from space shuttles to air conditioning systems to bridges requires the work of an engineer. To be successful in the field of engineering, one must have certain qualities. Some of those top qualities include: Possesses a Strong Analytical Aptitude: A great engineer has excellent analytical skills and is continually examining things and thinking of ways to help things work better. They are naturally inquisitive. Shows an Attention to Detail: A great engineer pays meticulous attention to detail. The slightest error can cause an entire structure to fail, so every detail must be reviewed thoroughly during the course of completing a project. Has Excellent Communication Skills: A great engineer has great communication skills. They can translate complex technical lingo into plain English and also communicate verbally with clients and other engineers working together on a project. Takes Part in Continuing Education: A great engineer stays on top of developments in the industry. Changes in technology happen rapidly, and the most successful engineers keep abreast of new research and ideas. ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 8 / 14
Top 10 Qualities of a Great Engineer http://engineeringschools.com/resources/top-10-qualities-of-a-great-engineer Is Creative: A great engineer is creative and can think of new and innovative ways to develop new systems and make existing things work more efficiently. Shows an Ability to Think Logically: A great engineer has top-notch logical skills. They are able to make sense of complex systems and understand how things work and how problems arise. Is Mathematically Inclined: A great engineer has excellent math skills. Engineering is an intricate science that involves complex calculations of varying difficulty. Has Good Problem Solving Skills: A great engineer has sharp problem solving skills. An engineer is frequently called upon solely to address problems, and they must be able to figure out where the problem stems from and quickly develop a solution. Is a Team Player: A great engineer understands that they are part of a larger team working together to make one project come together successfully, and therefore, must work well as part of that team. Has Excellent Technical Knowledge: A great engineer has a vast amount of technical knowledge. They understand a variety of computer programs and other systems that are commonly used during an engineering project. ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 9 / 14
Scientific Method & Engineering A Very Short Historical Perspective & What It Entails Scientific method has a 1,000-year old history: About 1,000 years ago, Ibn al-haytham (965 1039, Iraq), argued the importance of forming questions and subsequently testing them, an approach which was later advocated by...... Galileo with the publication of Discourses and Mathematical Demonstrations Relating to Two New Sciences (1638). The current method is based on a hypothetico-deductive model formulated in the 20th century, although it has undergone significant revision since first proposed. Nowadays, when conducting research, scientists/engineers use the scientific method to collect measurable, *empirical evidence in an experiment related to a hypothesis (often in the form of an if/then statement), the results aiming to support or contradict a scientific theory. *EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE: evidence that one can see, hear, touch, taste, or smell; it is evidence that is susceptible to human senses See http://www.livescience.com/21491-what-is-a-scientific-theory-definition-of-theory.html http://www.geo.sunysb.edu/esp/files/scientific-method.html ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 10 / 14
Scientific Method & Engineering Revised Hypothetico-Deductive Model Scientific method is a way to solve problems through: Observation: what is seen or measured. Hypothesis: possible explanation why things behave the way they do. Hypothesis is an EDUCATED, not random, guess. Experiment: designed to test hypothesis, may/will lead to new observations and the cycle goes on... Theory: a hypothesis that has been investigated through experimental tests and observation and seems to be correct at explaining WHY things behave the way they do most of the time. Theory has predictive value(s) and if the prediction is wrong, the theory must be changed. Theory explains WHY a natural phenomenon occurs. Law: After a theory has been tested for an extended period of time using all possible methods of experimentation and observation and no exceptions have been found, then it is changed to a law, which summarizes a body of observations (often in the form of mathematical relationships). Law tells us HOW it happens i.e. equation of how things change. During your engineering training course, you will be exposed to all of these stages of scientific method! ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 11 / 14
Scientific Method & Engineering Iterative in Nature Scientific method is iterative in nature. Figure 1: Scientific method. See http://www.tvgreen.com/apchem/apnotes.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/scientific_method ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 12 / 14
Scientific Method & Engineering Computational Method: The 20th Century Extension of Scientific Method Thanks to the advent of digital computers in the mid-20th century, the traditional scientific method has now spawned the computational method. Traditional science, using the scientific method, advances when someone 1 carefully observes something, 2 develops a hypothesis, 3 designs experiments to test the hypothesis, and 4 formulate a theory. When the experimental data supports the theory, mathematical models are developed that can be used to predict future outcomes. There are often drawbacks to traditional science. As mathematical models become more complex, the procedures required are increasingly time consuming, tedious, and error-prone. Modern computer systems usher in computational method which can perform algorithms quickly, tirelessly, and with minimal computational error. Computational method is thus an extension of the traditional scientific method; it is an intersection between science, math, and computing. KEVIN BREWER & CATHY BAREISS (2016): Concise Guide to Computing Foundations Springer (ISBN 978-3-319-29952-5) ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 13 / 14
Scientific Method & Engineering Computational Method: The 20th Century Extension of Scientific Method Figure 2: Overview of computational method. Image from www.shodor.org ibn.abdullah@ddress c b n a 2017 Mechanical Engineering An Etymology 14 / 14
... must end... and I end my presentation with two supplications my Lord! increase me in knowledge (TAA-HAA (20):114) O Allah! We ask You for knowledge that is of benefit (IBN MAJAH)